Incidence of hiatus hernia and gastro oesophageal reflux in 1030 prospective barium meal examinations in adult Nigerians

Abstract

A prospective study to determine the incidence of hiatus hernia and gastro-oesophageal reflux in 1030 consecutive symptomatic adult Nigerian patients undergoing barium meal examination is reported. The results show a very low incidence of hiatus hernia (0.39%) and an equally low incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux (2.2%) when compared with similar studies in Europe and America. There was a high incidence of duodenal ulcer (23.3%) and a low incidence of gastric ulcer (1.8%), the duodenal/gastric ulcer ratio of 12.1:1 being much higher than in Europe.